Offered to the Triplet Alphas

Chapter-16. Free butterfly

[Xanthea]

Nesryn called someone while I stayed in the foyer. Standing by the intricately designed arched window, I peered outside.

My brain identified as many plants and herbs as it could, matching the details and sketches I had seen in my mother's books and diaries. But there were still a lot more plants I couldn't identify.

I gasped, awestruck, gazing at the red butterfly. Its wings were as though made of thin slices of glowing red crystals with dark and gold patterns mixing gracefully with one another as it flapped its long-tailed wings. It was twice the size of a normal butterfly and a thousand times more beautiful and magical.

The butterfly fluttered past the window glass. I waved at it excitedly, as though it would wave back at me. Unaware of how sheepishly I was smiling, I couldn't take my eyes off it.

It landed on a flower with translucent whitish blue petals. Pressing my palm and nose against the cold glass, my eyes followed the butterfly.

"It has always fascinated me how petty things hold the power to bring something as mysterious as a smile onto someone's face in mere seconds. A butterfly, for instance..."

Before I turned around to figure out the source of the deep resonating voice, a tall, well-built man stood right beside me. His deep blue eyes contemplated the butterfly. His platinum hair was partially coiffed on the back while the fringes falling over his forehead and eyelids were frivolously at the mercy of winds.

Sliding the sleeves of his white shirt to his elbow, he slid his hands into his black pants pockets. He tilted his head, analyzing the butterfly intently that flexed his sharp jawline and handsome facial features.

"Does this butterfly make you happy?" He asked.

I wasn't sure who he was or if or how I was supposed to reply to him. So I remained silent and pretended to be gazing at the butterfly.

"Wouldn't you capture it? Keep it in a cage and adore it at your leisure. Or maybe better. You can catch it, kill it and then pin it with preservatives. Then its beauty will forever be yours. Dead, but yours. Should I catch it for you?"

He stretched out his hand over the glass of the window and gestures as if he had the power to catch the butterfly in mid-air without touching it.

"No..." I said, keeping my voice low. "Please don't catch it. Please don't cage it and please don't kill it."

He tensed his brows and then looked at me.

"Why not? Wouldn't you be sad when it's gone? You might never see it again."

"Sad?" I shook my head. "No."

"Why?"

"I think it's beautiful only because it's free and alive. You take away any of those and its beauty wouldn't ever be the same again."

"Why not?"

it will have scars and no matter how much you glorify scars, they'll always be ugly to the one carrying them, an eternal reminder of something they wish

make sure it doesn't get hurt

been no cage that hasn't wounded the one inside it, and not all wounds are

wings and took off flying higher and higher, far away

He scratched his chin.

right," he

then swiftly looked outside the window. My gaze froze, and then I cautiously looked at

appeared from his neck

eyes locked with mine, and I

It's actually difficult to comprehend him. But they are the only ones who act like it isn't a big deal. Others can barely look at it. Honestly..." he looked at his faint reflection in the window's glass. "I can barely look at myself. So..." he ran his fingers across his chin, and the scar disappeared. "So, I hide it away. Makes living

the way, isn't our pack a cage for you?" He

I dropped my gaze.

why I liked to see the butterfly free and admire it, for it had something I couldn't even dream

someone who is the ideal version of how we wish to see ourselves.' My mother's words

why I like butterflies..." I

butterflies. They themselves never see how

the window. His voice

words. You should be free, just like that butterfly. I know you're here against your will. So tell me, your highness, do you wish... to

the book? Don't forget to visit 5s.org for the full experience. You won't find

feverishly curled my fingers around my hand as I

I no longer had a dream I yearned to pursue, not even freedom. Maybe there was only one thing I looked forward to and feared at the same time - death. He stepped closer.

as she

B-beta?

at Draknor and then shifted her

the hell are you doing?"

turned to face

the new bride and some admiring,"

her eyes

the beta of the Prime pack, but that can change any time, so if I were you, I wouldn't play

still call

well call you a

am not wrong, this is the same dick you once wanted all over yourself. Still can't stop thinking about it,

my hand and dragged me with herself as she flounced upstairs. I had to run to keep up with her pace. "That fucking jerk! Dumbass bastard! Stay away from him, Xanthea. And if he tries

on the first floor, we took an

here. I'll head back to

the best with

with a confused,